Getting a Visa to Enter Brazil Just Got E-Easier

Thanks to a new electronic visa system, Brazil is becoming much easier to visit for Americans. Since January 25, tourists from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan no longer need to wait for complicated bureaucracy and paperwork to visit the largest country in South America.The new system has already been issuing permits for Australians since November 21, 2017, and since January 2018 for Japan (January 11), Canada (January 18), and the United States (January 25). The choice of countries was due to passenger flows: together, the four account for 60% of all visa applications for Brazil. A total of 400,000 tourist or business visas were issued to tourists from these countries in 2015 alone.
The initiative was proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE). The simplified visa system is expected to lead to an increase in tourist flow and (consequently) in tourism spending, which in turn helps create jobs and income in Brazil.
“Previously, tourists had to take all the documentation to the Brazilian consulate, and it took 30 to 40 days to receive the visa. With the electronic visa, you submit the documents online and receive the permission in 72 hours,” explained Rafael Luisi, head of the International Relations Office of the Ministry of Tourism.
Tourists will also no longer need to travel to the nearest Brazilian consulate, and the visa issuance has become cheaper: in the U.S., for example, it will cost $40.How to Apply
Access the online platform provided by BACC Travel: www.bacctravel.com and have your passport on hand.
If you have dual nationality, select the nationality that corresponds to the passport you will use for the application (for example, if you have Australian and American nationality and will use your Australian passport to apply for the eVisa, select the Australian nationality). Your passport must be valid for at least 1 month from the date of your application.
The validity period of your eVisa is different from the duration of your stay. You can enter Brazil at any time within the validity period of the issued eVisa and stay for a maximum of 90 days in a year. If you need to stay more than 90 days in the country, you must apply for a regular visa at the nearest Brazilian Consulate.
The average processing time for your eVisa can be up to 5 business days.
You can pay the fees using only MasterCard, Visa, and Union Pay credit/debit cards. It is not necessary for the card to be in your name. Make sure your card is enabled for international transactions. The eVisa fee can only be paid in U.S. dollars. However, if you do not have an account in USD, an equivalent amount in your local currency will be debited from your account.Who Can Apply
You can apply for the eVisa if you meet the conditions mentioned below:
• You intend to go to Brazil as a Visitor;
• Your stay in Brazil will not exceed 90 days;
• You hold an Australian/Japanese/Canadian or U.S. passport. Applicants can apply for the Brazil Visitor visa for the categories/subcategories mentioned below:
• Business: a person attending meetings, trade fairs, and business events, prospecting business opportunities, signing contracts, conducting audits or consulting. Engaging in paid activities in Brazil is prohibited and the stay cannot exceed 90 days.
• Tourism: a person wishing to engage in tourism, informational, or recreational activities, as well as visiting family.
• Transit: a person who, to reach their destination country, must enter Brazilian national territory. A visa is not required for a person in continuous travel who needs to make stops or connections in Brazil, provided that: i) they remain in the international transit area of the Brazilian port or airport, without needing to go through Brazilian immigration control, and; ii) they hold a single airline ticket, even if issued by two or more airlines that have a cooperation agreement among themselves.
• Journalism: a person acting as a journalist and whose stay does not exceed 90 days.
• Sports Activities: a person whose goal is to engage in sports activities for a short stay, with no intention of establishing residence, intending to practice sports activities and participate in sports competitions, even if receiving prizes, including cash.
• Artistic Activities: a person coming to Brazil for a short stay, with no intention of establishing residence, for the purpose of engaging in artistic activities and participating in artistic competitions, even if receiving prizes, including cash.
• Seminars or Conferences: a person wishing to come to Brazil to participate in conferences, seminars, congresses, or meetings, characterized as specific events. These visitors do not receive remuneration in Brazil for their activities. The visa may be granted even if the person receives reimbursement for accommodation, transportation, and food expenses, directly or through per diems.
• Cultural Program: a person wishing to engage in cultural activities.
• Scientific Program: a person wishing to engage in scientific research and cooperation activities, provided that the stay does not exceed 90 days.
• Research Activities: a person wishing to engage in university extension activities, provided that the stay does not exceed 90 days.
• Studies: a person wishing to engage in teaching and learning activities, as well as supervised internships, provided that the stay does not exceed 90 days.
• Crew Member: a person who will act as a crew member of an aircraft or vessel, except in cases where the visitor presents an international seaman’s card issued under the International Labour Organization – ILO Convention.
• Voluntary Activities: a person wishing to act as a volunteer, provided that their stay does not exceed 90 days.
• Fiancé(e) or spouse of a Brazilian citizen: a person coming to visit their Brazilian spouse or family.
• Short-Term Medical Treatment: a person granted short-term medical or therapeutic treatment, provided that the stay does not exceed 90 days and that they have sufficient means of subsistence to pay for their treatment and maintenance during the period in which the treatment is carried out, through their own resources, valid health insurance in the national territory, or a health service provision certificate provided for in an international agreement.
For More Information: www.bacctravel.com
Source: Brazil Gov News, VFS Global, and the Ministry of Tourism